How should I get used to my new hearing aids?

A hearing aid seems like a simple and easy-to-use device, which promises to bring all the sonic vibrations of the world back into your life. But there are myriad of complications associated with these ordinary looking machines. When getting started, people are often overwhelmed by all the sudden sensory stimuli they receive, and it usually takes them a while to adjust to their newly installed hearing devices. Further, if a patient has been affected by hearing loss from a long time, it is highly likely that the brain has no associated memory related to processing any hearing stimuli. 

In addition to being subjected to hearing sensations, patients also need to get used to the physical sensation that comes with the installation of a hearing aid on the ear. On top of that, the patient needs to learn various functionalities in order to operate the hearing aid correctly. 

This guide aims to help anyone facing difficulties with their hearing aids, sail through the first few weeks easily, so as to derive maximum benefit out of them, and thereby deal effectively with their hearing loss.

1. Wear Them Intermittently

If you are using hearing aids for the first time, it is advisable to wear them only for a few hours in a day. Start with wearing them intermittently for no more than 8 hours during the day, and gradually aim to increase your endurance. According to experts, greater is the period of use, higher is the ability of a person to discern different types of sounds. However, it’s important that you start slow and take your time before escalating the duration of use. 

2. Start Out in a Quiet Environment

For the first few weeks, wear your hearing aid in relatively quieter environments. When you are in calmer surroundings, your brain will be able to identify sounds much more effectively. Once your brain acclimates to different types of sounds in low-noise settings, you will be much more comfortable in a loud environment, like a restaurant or a shopping mall. 

3. Try Listening Exercises

In the beginning, try and practice listening to certain specific sounds on a daily basis. Sit in a quiet place, like your bedroom, and rediscover your ability to hear some feeble nearby sounds, such as a chirping of a bird or ticking of a clock. In addition, try to recognize the direction of the source of sound. You can also try to listen to your own voice, by reading out loud to yourself. 

4. Follow-up with your Audiologist 

Make sure you follow up with your hearing doctor one or two weeks after you get your hearing aid installed. As you gain the ability to distinguish between pleasant and unpleasant sounds, you can seek their help to make any necessary adjustments in the device, including fine-tuning the sounds or tweaking the fit. You can also discuss any concerns and seek their expert advice in remedying those issues. 

5. Attend hearing aid care classes

If you are able to find any online / offline classes that might help you accelerate the process of adjusting to your hearing aids, make sure you sign up for them. Such classes can be really useful, especially for new users as they can discuss their queries, as well as learn from the experience of fellow hearing aid wearers. 

6. Watch Television with Subtitles.

If you have been experiencing hearing loss from quite some time, it’s likely that your brain has lost the ability to make a connection between language and sounds. Therefore, you should practice reading and listening to words simultaneously; this will help to re-establish the connection and make the job of listening easier for your brain. So next time you plan to watch a show / movie, make sure that you turn the subtitles on. 

Achieving Hearing Aid Success

In addition to the abovementioned tips, there are certain principles that would guide you on your journey of combating hearing loss using hearing aids. These principles come in handy when you are facing certain roadblocks and need additional boost to keep you going. 

Be Patient and have a Positive Attitude

It takes a brief period of adjustment before you actually start feeling comfortable in your new hearing aids. Therefore, don’t feel frustrated if you are not able to adapt to them in the first few days. Be patient with yourself and have a positive outlook. Your desire to overcome hearing loss must be greater than the challenges you might face while using the hearing aid. If you are patient enough to get past the first few difficult weeks, you are much more likely to achieve satisfactory long-term results. 

Have Realistic Expectations

Always remember that hearing aids only improve your hearing ability, and not restore it completely. So, it’s important that you set realistic expectations, and focus on getting the most out of them. Don’t expect to hear everything perfectly, but focus on incremental improvement on a daily basis. 

Educate Yourself

As with any type of medical condition, hearing loss also requires awareness and personal education. If you are aware of the latest information related to your condition, you can treat it much more effectively. Whenever possible, read up on your condition and know about various treatment alternatives and hearing aids that are likely to suit your particular needs. 

Practice Everyday

Last, but not the least, remember to practice regularly. Try to follow a schedule in which you would wear your hearing aids and practice your listening exercises. Eventually, try to wear them at all waking hours. Once you have trained your brain to hear a range of sounds, you will be able to listen to almost everything automatically without any conscious effort. 

Remember that getting used to hearing aid requires will, time and patience. In order to be adept at using the hearing aid, one should not hesitate to reach out to their hearing care professional whenever they encounter an issue. Once you are comfortable with using the hearing aid, it is likely to improve your quality of life significantly.